Andrew Johnson (December 29, 1808 – July 31, 1875)
Political Party: Democrat
Term in Office: April 15, 1865 – March 3, 1869
Vice President: None (replaced Abraham Lincoln after his assassination)
Andrew Johnson became president because of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln after the Civil War. It was a time of Reconstruction for the country. Although numerous, significant accomplishments occurred during his presidency, Andrew Johnson deserves a “D” for his presidency because his role in those accomplishments was trivial.
Johnson’s goal for his presidency was Reconstruction. America was left in pieces after the Civil War. The North and South needed to be sewn back together again. Issues, such as protecting and empowering the freedmen, needed to be addressed. Johnson agreed with Lincoln about the seceded states never legally leaving the Union, so his plan was to restore them to the Union as quickly as possible. Johnson’s Reconstruction proclamation included appointing a governor to each rebel state and then having state conventions to create new constitutions. They had to repeal the ordinances of secession, repudiate all Confederate debts, and ratify the Thirteenth Amendment which abolished slavery. States that followed these conditions would be readmitted into the Union. Johnson’s plan failed because of a Republican Congress that replaced his plan with a stricter one. Although Johnson’s plan was not used, his goal was reached because the country was reconstructed. The country eventually became reunited and all people gained rights; just not because of him.
Johnson had a terrible relationship with Congress. Republicans gained more than a two-thirds majority in Congress during his presidency. This made Congress veto-proof. Johnson and Congress never agreed. Johnson exercised twenty-nine vetoes during his presidency. Fifteen were overridden. The Freedmen’s Bureau Act and four Reconstruction Acts were some of the legislature passed over Johnson’s veto. Once Republicans had the power in Congress, they did what they pleased. Johnson was helpless. Their relationship was so awful that in 1868, Congress attempted to impeach him.
The most positive outcome of Johnson’s administration was the purchase of Alaska in 1867. Russia wanted to sell Alaska to America to help strengthen America against Britain. William Seward, Secretary of State, signed a treaty with Russia to receive Alaska for $7.2 million. The public was against this purchase at first; calling it “Seward’s Folly” because they did not want to spend money on expansion while they were trying to reconstruct. However, Congress and the public eventually accepted the purchase because Russia was friendly to the North during the civil war and there was rumor of numerous natural resources in Alaska. The purchase of Alaska had a great outcome because it increased United States territory and valuable natural resources, including gold and gas, were found there.
The most negative outcome was the Black Codes. These were laws passed in many Southern legislatures that regulated the affairs of the emancipated blacks. They were made to suppress blacks and keep whites superior. The Black Codes varied in severity from state to state but overall, their main goal was to keep blacks as a subservient labor force. They made the majority of blacks sharecroppers. The North was angered and saddened by the Black Codes. They felt like the existence of these codes meant that they did not actually win the Civil War and that the war was pointless. Johnson supported the Black Codes. He did not truly try to help the struggling blacks even though it was his job. He allowed the South to repress the blacks and destroy the progress that had already been done for blacks.
Johnson did not influence future administrations or generations. He never really accomplished anything significant, good or bad, during his presidency. Reconstruction was a success, but that was because of Congress. All the lasting influences were by Congress, not Johnson.
The country was better off at the end of Johnson’s presidency. The country was whole again. Blacks were also free with rights. Territory was expanded and many great reforms, especially in education, were started. However, these successes were not because of Johnson. Congress was the reason for improvement. Johnson had no significant accomplishments. For this reason, Andrew Johnson receives the grade of a “D” for his presidency.
Political Party: Democrat
Term in Office: April 15, 1865 – March 3, 1869
Vice President: None (replaced Abraham Lincoln after his assassination)
Andrew Johnson became president because of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln after the Civil War. It was a time of Reconstruction for the country. Although numerous, significant accomplishments occurred during his presidency, Andrew Johnson deserves a “D” for his presidency because his role in those accomplishments was trivial.
Johnson’s goal for his presidency was Reconstruction. America was left in pieces after the Civil War. The North and South needed to be sewn back together again. Issues, such as protecting and empowering the freedmen, needed to be addressed. Johnson agreed with Lincoln about the seceded states never legally leaving the Union, so his plan was to restore them to the Union as quickly as possible. Johnson’s Reconstruction proclamation included appointing a governor to each rebel state and then having state conventions to create new constitutions. They had to repeal the ordinances of secession, repudiate all Confederate debts, and ratify the Thirteenth Amendment which abolished slavery. States that followed these conditions would be readmitted into the Union. Johnson’s plan failed because of a Republican Congress that replaced his plan with a stricter one. Although Johnson’s plan was not used, his goal was reached because the country was reconstructed. The country eventually became reunited and all people gained rights; just not because of him.
Johnson had a terrible relationship with Congress. Republicans gained more than a two-thirds majority in Congress during his presidency. This made Congress veto-proof. Johnson and Congress never agreed. Johnson exercised twenty-nine vetoes during his presidency. Fifteen were overridden. The Freedmen’s Bureau Act and four Reconstruction Acts were some of the legislature passed over Johnson’s veto. Once Republicans had the power in Congress, they did what they pleased. Johnson was helpless. Their relationship was so awful that in 1868, Congress attempted to impeach him.
The most positive outcome of Johnson’s administration was the purchase of Alaska in 1867. Russia wanted to sell Alaska to America to help strengthen America against Britain. William Seward, Secretary of State, signed a treaty with Russia to receive Alaska for $7.2 million. The public was against this purchase at first; calling it “Seward’s Folly” because they did not want to spend money on expansion while they were trying to reconstruct. However, Congress and the public eventually accepted the purchase because Russia was friendly to the North during the civil war and there was rumor of numerous natural resources in Alaska. The purchase of Alaska had a great outcome because it increased United States territory and valuable natural resources, including gold and gas, were found there.
The most negative outcome was the Black Codes. These were laws passed in many Southern legislatures that regulated the affairs of the emancipated blacks. They were made to suppress blacks and keep whites superior. The Black Codes varied in severity from state to state but overall, their main goal was to keep blacks as a subservient labor force. They made the majority of blacks sharecroppers. The North was angered and saddened by the Black Codes. They felt like the existence of these codes meant that they did not actually win the Civil War and that the war was pointless. Johnson supported the Black Codes. He did not truly try to help the struggling blacks even though it was his job. He allowed the South to repress the blacks and destroy the progress that had already been done for blacks.
Johnson did not influence future administrations or generations. He never really accomplished anything significant, good or bad, during his presidency. Reconstruction was a success, but that was because of Congress. All the lasting influences were by Congress, not Johnson.
The country was better off at the end of Johnson’s presidency. The country was whole again. Blacks were also free with rights. Territory was expanded and many great reforms, especially in education, were started. However, these successes were not because of Johnson. Congress was the reason for improvement. Johnson had no significant accomplishments. For this reason, Andrew Johnson receives the grade of a “D” for his presidency.
Bibliography
"Andrew Johnson." EHistory. Web. 05 Nov. 2009.<http://ehistory.osu.edu/world/PeopleView.Cfm?PID=44>.
"Black Codes In The Former Confederate States." Web. 05 Nov. 2009.<http://www.civilwarhome.com/blackcodes.htm>.
DeGregorio, William A. The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents. Fort Lee, N.J: Barricade Books, 2005. Print.
"Purchase of Alaska, 1867." U.S. Department of State. Web. 05 Nov. 2009.<http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ho/time/gp/17662.htm>.